I am starting to get some bad vibes from Young and Sweat. I try to counter those thoughts by looking at how the team slow-walked Jon Allen and are doing the same with Terry McLaurin, two young leaders who have done everything right.
Pro sports really are nothing more than a business, no matter how much fans wish it were more.
I have to agree.
Now I'm not going to sit here and act like ALL NFL players need to have the same personality as those two. There WILL be players that demand the spot light more than others, but I really want those spotlight guys to either absolutely OWN Sundays, or at least be present when the team is practicing. Young had a pretty good rookie season, yes he won DROY, but he wasn't statistically anywhere near the top in any measurable category. I will say he influenced games, and situations, like the Burrow hit, the fumble return, and others, but those are moments... and it was obvious the defense got BETTER after he went down.
Again, I'm rooting for him, and I'll never 'blame' Rivera and co. for that pick because I would have made 10 times in a row without being afforded the hindsight we have now. I just need Chase to take that next step. I would LIKE to see him with the team, at all OTAs, being the LEADER. McLaurin and Payne are without contracts, and both have made it known they will NOT be participating in On-Field practices at this point, but they're still doing the team conditioning, weight lifting, meeting, and other activities with the OTAs. They're HERE. Chase has chosen to not be here multiple years in a row now, and he's coming off a TERRIBLE seasons given the expectations, and hope, surrounding him. Those shouldn't be his priority, but getting better should...